Man (26) dies in gunshot incident

FAMILY and friends of Les Beattie, whose body was discovered at his home in the Tamnamore Road area near the Birches, have been left deeply traumatised by his sudden death.

His body was found by a family member on Sunday. It is believed he died from gunshot wounds.

In a statement the PSNI said, “Police attended the scene of a sudden death of a 26-year-old male in the Tamnamore Road area at approximately 2.45pm on Sunday, December 30, 2012. Police are not treating the death as suspicious.”

Around 800 mourners - from all aspects of his life - attended the funeral at Annaghmore Church of Ireland on Wednesday where the Rev Dorothy McVeigh conducted the service. There were as many inside as outside the packed church.

Les (26), a clay pigeon shooting enthusiast, was a member of a respected local family, and is survived by parents Roy and Hilda, his fiancee Lynsey Woods, and siblings Royanne, Hayley, Joel and James.

It is also believed that he and Lynsey were planning to marry next summer and to settle in Portadown. His love for her is evident in his facebook page, on which he posted a seasonal photograph of her in the kitchen with the caption - “Happy Christmas everybody. Miss Woods is cooking the turkey!”

He enjoyed shooting at Annaloiste Clay Pigeon Shooting Complex.

On the day after Boxing Day, he wrote on facebook, “Brilliant day’s shooting today. Roll on tomorrow for another bit of shooting. Love these oul days off. Shot well today. Really happy with the new stock. Money well spent.”

Les worked for the family car repair business, Beattie Auto Repairs. His former employers were brother-in-law Bryan Hynds, who runs a landscape services business at Dobbin Road, and Bann Hire Services at Mahon Road where he worked as a mechanic.

There are many tributes and messages of sympathy on facebook, led by his fiancee Lynsey Woods who wrote of her deep personal loss and that of the family. She also thanked the 800 people who attended the funeral and the Rev McVeigh for her help and sensitivity.

Kim Coulter writes, “Praying for you and your family Lynsey. May you all have the strength and courage to come through this difficult time.”

Sarah McFadden writes of Les’s joy for life, “Just picturing Les and Jimmy dancing that night at the end - that’s how to have fun. Always making people smile. Precious memories.”

Alana Gilpin - “So sorry for your loss. Thinking of you. Such tragic news for you and the family at this difficult time.”

The family is deeply traumatised by the loss of their out-going, vibrant son and - through the Rev McVeigh, Rector of Annaghmore - indicated they did not wish to be interviewed about his untimely passing.